Connect to Veterinary Medicine: February 2006

February 2006

Welcome to Connect to Veterinary Medicine, the latest news and information for alumni and friends of the College of Veterinary Medicine!

What's going on at the College of Veterinary Medicine? Every day our faculty, staff and students are making a difference in the health and well-being of animals. And now you can read about it in Connect to Veterinary Medicine, our new way of keeping alumni and friends connected to the college. This e-newsletter will be sent to you once a month. Connect, along with a new annual report, will replace the Speculum, our current alumni magazine. We hope you enjoy Connect!

Above and beyond

Dr. Lynne Olson receives Ohio State's Distinguished Service Award

President Karen Holbrook surprised Dr. Lynne Olson during the Department of Veterinary Biosciences faculty meeting by presenting her with the Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to only three OSU faculty each year who have made extensive contributions to the development and implementation of university policies and programs that have made demonstrable impact on the quality of the university.

Dr. Olson is the "go-to" person for OSU policy on responsible science. She was a leader in the development of the OSU policy of Responsible Conduct of Research that was instrumental in positioning Ohio State in front of NIH administrative initiatives, and drafted the original policies that still guide the responsible conduct of research at the university. Dr. Olson has continually demonstrated her commitment to ethical standards through her leadership seminars, courses on the ethical conduct of research, and new NIH research proposals regarding evaluation tools for research integrity.

For nearly 20 years, she has gone above and beyond her assigned responsibilities as a faculty member in veterinary medicine. Congratulations, Dr. Olson!

Of dogs and men

Research on prostate cancer

Only two mammals are known to develop prostate cancer – men and dogs. Research conducted by Dr. Tom Rosol, involving the creation of a new cell line from cancers that had developed in a dog's bones, may help both species in reducing pain from the disease.

Dr. Rosol, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, believes that the new line of cells can provide a better model to study prostate cancer. In fact, it already has. One recent study in mice identified a promising possible therapy to reduce the skeletal pain that accompanies prostate cancer. Scientists found that a substance called anti-nerve growth factor (anti-NGF) appeared to be more effective in controlling pain in mice than even morphine.

Reaching out

Egyptian veterinarians visit CVM

Nine veterinarians from Assiut University in Egypt visited Ohio State for four weeks to observe the college's professional program and study the curriculum design. These faculty members were looking to modernize their university's veterinary program and develop more hands-on learning opportunities for its students. During their stay in Columbus , the veterinarians followed OSU senior veterinary students through some of their clinical rotations. They also visited the veterinary extension programs of Marysville and Wooster as well as the Sugarcreek Veterinary Clinic, the Andreas Dairy Farm, and the Superior Dairy plant in Canton, Ohio .

Dr. Cliff Monahan, parasitologist in the Department of Preventive Medicine, recently returned from Egypt as part of a faculty exchange. Read more about his experiences, and about the large differences between veterinary medicine education in our two countries.

Join us!

Alumni Society Hosts Reception at Midwest Veterinary Convention

The Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society, with the support of Bayer Animal Health, is hosting its third annual alumni reception from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on February 25 during the Midwest Veterinary Convention. Please join Alumni Society President Dr. Jennifer Schoenfeld and Dean Tom Rosol following the day's seminars for some light refreshments. All college alumni and guests are invited to attend.

Student achievement

Laurie Millward receives OSU Board of Trustees Award

Laurie Millward, a fourth-year student in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has received the Board of Trustees Student Recognition Award. In addition to pursuing a DVM degree, Laurie is working toward an MS in Veterinary Biosciences. She has received research grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Institutes of Health and has served as secretary of the Radiology Club. Following graduation, Laurie hopes to complete a residency in clinical pathology, earn a PhD degree and practice academic medicine.